While the tech giant hasn’t said specifically what features will be showcased within the new apps, we do know we’ll be able to try them out soon: Microsoft revealed that preview versions of the new apps will be available during the second quarter.

As the vendor previously confirmed, the final version of Office 2019 will ship during the second half of 2018.

What Microsoft hasn’t said before, however, is what you’ll need to run Office 2019. While the exact hardware specifications haven’t been revealed, we do know that you’ll need Windows 10, specifically any currently supported version that is updated on a semi-annual basis with new feature updates—basically Windows 10 Home and Pro.

Microsoft also said that it won’t be shipping Office using the older MSI installer—they’ll all use the Click-to-Run installer which is commonly used by Office 365.

“Software that is more than a decade old, and hasn’t benefited from this innovation, is difficult to secure and inherently less productive,” Microsoft said. “As the pace of change accelerates, it has become imperative to move our software to a more modern cadence.”

In addition, Microsoft will provide Office with five years of mainstream support and an additional two years of extended support, ending on 14 October 2025.

Furthermore, the cloud vendor is also trying to phase out the ProPlus version of Office that isn’t on what’s known as the Semi-Annual Channel—again, the version of Windows that receives major feature upgrades every spring and fall.

Slideshows

Google and Microsoft tackle triple value play at Synnex Alliance 2018

This Synnex Alliance roadshow, in association with Google and Microsoft, started with the end-user and worked back to define the notion of value, outlining the lucrative partner opportunities ahead in 2018.

Changing names: the top company rebrands hitting the channel

The past year has seen a flurry of acquisitions, sales, consolidations and business transformations in the local tech sector; ARN takes a look at the company name changes and rebrands across the Australian channel that have resulted from all this activity.

Upcoming tech talent share insights at Emerging Leaders 2018

The channel came together for the third running of the ARN Emerging Leaders Forum in Australia, created to provide a program that identifies, educates and showcases the upcoming talent of the ICT industry.

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